Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. addresses marchers during his "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington on Aug. 28, 1963. (AP Photo/File)

GADSDEN, Alabama --- The Gadsden City Council today approved designating part of U.S. 431 through town as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Parkway.

The portion affected is the length of the highway through the city, from Attalla to Glencoe. The existing name of the highway through Gadsden is Meighan Boulevard.

City officials said the designation would still have to be approved by the local legislative delegation next month. Then any change in signs would come after.

Officials also said the designation would not cause any businesses to change their addresses. Councilman Deverick Williams said the designation naming was "a middle of the road proposition."

"A name change puts a significant burden on businesses for having to change their letterheads and literature," Williams said. "Doing it this way gives us the opportunity to recognize Dr. King, and the city can feel free to pursue an actual street named after him."

Williams said the designation was a "very big step for the city."

"It puts the City of Gadsden in line for recognizing someone who offered a significant contribution to this nation," he said.

The city's 27th annual Martin Luther King Jr. city-wide observance is scheduled for Monday at 6 p.m. at Gadsden Convention Hall, with a prelude starting at 5:30 p.m. Guest speaker will be former Atlanta Police Chief Eldrin Bell.